He’s precious. He acts tough around everyone else, even his own siblings. But with me, he’s a teddy bear.
Mom leaves early for work today. Meaning I can leave with Leonidas. I’m glad because I didn’t want to drive down by myself or leave my car anywhere for her to see. Plus, I’m lazy … and he hasn’t told me where he’s taking me yet.
Yay, I love surprises.Note the sarcasm.
I pull on a pair of gray sweatpants and a cropped white hoodie that shows off my stomach. After straightening my long brown hair, I yank on a pair of sneakers. Grabbing my bag, I meet Leonidas in his car, where he’s waiting for me.
He staggers back in his seat when I close the car door behind me.
“What did you just do?” I ask him when he lets out a laugh.He’s crazy.
“I just got stunned by your beauty.”
Handsome dork.
I copy his actions. My back hits the door as I place a hand on my chest. “Sorry, you just shocked me by your sexiness.”
Leaning in close, he places his lips against my ear. “Your gaze is fire. I wanna burn,” he sings. His voice is velvety smooth and husky.
I freeze, and he leans back with wide eyes.
My heart doesn’t pick up its pace because of old memories; it quickens because Leonidas’s voice relaxes me. I feel safe while listening to him. The thought scares me. I’m getting attached too quickly.
“Shit, sorry.” He clears his throat and looks straight ahead. His hands shake slightly as he moves to grip the steering wheel tightly.
I whisper, “Your voice is mind-blowing.” Peering at him from the corner of my eye, I find him biting his lip nervously. “Do you sing?”
“Sometimes,” is all he says, making me question if I overstepped on something personal. Clearing his throat before glancing over at me, he pats my thigh. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
I slowly nod my head, confusion evident on my face. That entire conversation was weird.
Why did he suddenly become so closed off and distant?
* * *
We’ve been driving for two hours. I fell asleep twenty minutes into the ride. There’s something relaxing about Leonidas’s hand in mine as his thumb brushes up and down my knuckles. His touch calms me. My breaths turn deeper and less forced. My eyes clear, making me see the color in the world better.
He makes me want to live.
He also makes me feel uneasy—in a good way. He makes my cheeks turn a shade of pink whenever he looks at me with his dark eyes. The way he squeezes my thigh when he drives sends heat throughout my body. His lip between his mouth whenever he looks me up and down makes me want to give up everything I have left for him.
I’m falling for him quickly.
It’s like I’m falling off a cliff, hands in the air, grasping the breeze, trying to find something to hold on to, but all I clasp is wind. I feel like I’m falling, falling so hard, at an incredible speed, hoping Leonidas catches me and is careful with my heart.
We just started dating. Time proves it doesn’t take long to care deeply for another. He holds my heart in his hands, and here I am, trusting him with it.
I hope he doesn’t break it.
He hasn’t noticed I’m awake yet. He looks deep in thought. One hand is tightly clenching my own. If I wasn’t pretending I was sleeping just to watch him, I would wince. His other hand holds the steering wheel in a death grip. Teeth bite his lower lip—that’s something I’ve observed he does when he’s nervous. The foot that he presses down on the gas pedal is straight and stiff, and the other taps the ground.
I avert my gaze from him and let my eyes follow the path the car is making. It looks like we’re in another small town. I’ve never been here before. History seeps through the architecture of these classic buildings. A water fountain lies in the middle of the town square. One or two people walk on the sidewalks.
Opening my eyes fully, I look over at Leonidas.
Feeling my stare on him, he smiles down fondly at me. Squeezing my hand tighter, he nods to the surrounding landscape around us. “Surprise.”
“It’s nice,” I say. “But I’m still confused.”
